Bottle sterilizer



p 93 M. w. coNNoRs 2,174,341

BOTTLE STERILIZ ER Filed July 15, 1937 INVENTOR Marlin" Connors.

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOTTLE STERILIZER Application July 13, 1937, Serial No. 153,327

1 Claim.

This invention relates to bottle sterilizers, and more particularly to a device whereby a plurality of nursing bottles may be rapidly, efliciently, and thoroughly sterilized at the same time.

5 One object of this invention is to provide a sterilizer of the above nature adapted to support a plurality of bottles in inverted position within an ordinary kettle in which a liquid may be boiled, whereby the steam therefrom will displace the air 10 in the bottles and thoroughly sterilize them.

A further object is to provide a flanged bottle sterilizer which is adapted to rest upon the top edge of a kettle, saucepan, or like container to support a plurality of inverted nursing bottles 15 out of contact with the water being boiled therein,

whereby the bottles will not become wet and sterilization will be accomplished by the steam arising from the boiling water.

A still further object is to provide a bottle ster- 20 ilizer of the above nature which will be simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to manipulate, compact, ornamental in appearance, and very efficient and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view there has 25 been illustrated in the accompanying drawing one form in which the invention may be conveniently embodied in practice.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the bottle ster- 30 ilizer as it appears in use upon a saucepan.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the same, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The improved bottle sterilizer of this invention comprises a dish-shaped plate I having a depressed flat center portion I I in which a plurality (six in this instance) of spaced-apart circular apertures I2 are provided. The plate II has an annular horizontal rim I3 which is adapted to rest upon the top edge of a container, such as a saucepan I4, in which water or other liquid may be boiled, the depressed center portion II being disposed within a top opening I5 of the same.

The intermediate section I6 of the plate Ill surrounding the depressed portion I I is substantially vertical and provides an additional support for the necks of the bottles II to prevent them from 50 tipping over outwardly when they are inserted and placed within the apertures I2, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The level of the water in the saucepan I4 is indicated at I9, and the bottle necks I 8 are adapted to be located above said level 5 in a steam space 20.

Operation In operation, the steam will rise from the boiling water in the saucepan I4 and enter the bottles I], expelling the air therefrom, and thus quickly 5 and thoroughly sterilizing said bottles Without causing them to become wet. If desired, the nursing nipples, which have been removed from the bottles, will be dropped into the bottom of the saucepan and sterilized in the boiling water there- 10 in, simultaneously with the sterilization of the bottles.

According to some tests made by bacteriologists, typhoid, streptococcus, and other germs will be completely destroyed by the use of the present invention, and in some instances, within the short period of ten minutes.

One advantage of the present invention is that it is not necessary that the intermediate cylindrical section I6 of the sterilizer plate fit the top opening I5 of the saucepan closely, as the sterilizer plate will operate equally well with saucepans of various sizes larger than said cylindrical section, thus allowing for considerable variation in the size of the kettle which may be employed therewith.

While there has been disclosed in this specification one form in which the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that this form is shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not to be limited to the specific disclosure but may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit. In short, the invention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming Within the scope of the following claim.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new, and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent, is:

In a device for sterilizing bottles having reduced necks, a plate-like member having an outer relatively wide horizontal rim adapted to seat upon the upper edge of a kettle of boiling water and also having a depressed center portion connected with said rim by a cylindrical section of substantial height, said depressed portion having a plurality of spaced-apart apertures therein located adjacent the outer edge thereof to cause the necks of a plurality of inverted bottles inserted through said apertures for admitting steam to the interior of said bottles to lie against the inner edge of said rim to support said bottles in outwardly inclined positions.

MARTIN W. CONNORS. 5 

